Presidents Involved
By: Miranda B.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to go head first into the conflicts involving Vietnam. An agreement called the Geneva Accords was signed by France and Vietnam in the summer of 1954. Eisenhower and his Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, believed that this agreement gave the communist too much power in the north. Eisenhower decided to create his own treaty. He created the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization. The purpose of this treaty was to cease any more communist influence in Southeast Asia.
In 1955, the government of the republic of Vietnam was created. The leader, Ngo Dinh Diem claimed his country was under attack from communist. What Ho did not mention was that he and his colleagues were committed communists. In 1957 the Vietnam War began. Eisenhower considered intervening by sending American troops. He even considered using atomic weapons, but he decided not to because he felt the Korean War had made Americans
exhausted of overseas conflict. The French had to withdraw.
Eisenhower explained something called the "domino theory" to describe China. Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, and India. He states "You have a row of dominoes set yo, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is a certainty that it will go over very quickly"
In 1955, the government of the republic of Vietnam was created. The leader, Ngo Dinh Diem claimed his country was under attack from communist. What Ho did not mention was that he and his colleagues were committed communists. In 1957 the Vietnam War began. Eisenhower considered intervening by sending American troops. He even considered using atomic weapons, but he decided not to because he felt the Korean War had made Americans
exhausted of overseas conflict. The French had to withdraw.
Eisenhower explained something called the "domino theory" to describe China. Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, and India. He states "You have a row of dominoes set yo, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is a certainty that it will go over very quickly"
President John F. Kennedy believed in containing communism. In his first speech, he made it clear that he would continue the policy of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Kennedy supported the "domino theory" as well, which convinced him that if South Vietnam were to fall into communism, then the other states in the region would fall as well. Kennedy was warned that Vietnam and warfare in Vietnam would trap America in a "bottomless military and political swamp".
In 1961, Kennedy agreed that American should invest in an increase of the size of the South Vietnamese Army from 150,000 to 170,000. He also agreed to send 1000 U.S. military guides to South Vietnam to help train the army. These two decisions were not made public, yet they broke the 1954 Geneva Agreement. President John F. Kennedy says, "Pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend... to assure the survival and success of liberty"
In 1961, Kennedy agreed that American should invest in an increase of the size of the South Vietnamese Army from 150,000 to 170,000. He also agreed to send 1000 U.S. military guides to South Vietnam to help train the army. These two decisions were not made public, yet they broke the 1954 Geneva Agreement. President John F. Kennedy says, "Pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend... to assure the survival and success of liberty"
Many historians consider President Johnson the most accomplished legislative strategist in American history. Historians also believe that he was the post powerful majority leader the Senate ever had! The tragedy of his presidency was the Vietnam war. . The reason why Johnson won the president election was because Barry Goldwater, his opponent was an anti-Communist who might have pushed the United States into war with the Soviet Union. He spoke about containing communism. He declared that he was "not about to send American boys 9 or 10,000 miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves". Years after 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson sent several American troops to fight alongside South Vietnamese.
At first, President Johnson was against sending ground troops to Vietnam, but in March of 1965, he began dispatching tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers to fight in Vietnam. Congress and the American Public strongly supported Johnson's strategy. A poll, taken in 1965, showed that 61% of Americans supported the U.S. policy in Vietnam - only 24% opposed. By the end of 1965, the U.S. government had sent more than 180,000 Americans to Vietnam.
At first, President Johnson was against sending ground troops to Vietnam, but in March of 1965, he began dispatching tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers to fight in Vietnam. Congress and the American Public strongly supported Johnson's strategy. A poll, taken in 1965, showed that 61% of Americans supported the U.S. policy in Vietnam - only 24% opposed. By the end of 1965, the U.S. government had sent more than 180,000 Americans to Vietnam.
In the summer of 1969, president Richard Nixon was elected and he announced the first U.S. troops withdrawals from Vietnam. While Nixon was president, the war was brought into Cambodia and Lao to try to find pockets of communist along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Nixon claimed that he had a secret plan to the war and won the election. He created a process called "Vietnamization". Vietnamizaion was a method used to train the South Vietnam troops to fight, and it was also used to slowly pull American troops out of Vietnam. This policy was aimed to establish what president Nixon called "peach with honor". President Nixon announced this plan to the Americans in a nationally televised speech - on November 3, 1969.
He intended to maintain U.S. dignity in the face of its withdrawal from war. Another goal that Nixon had in mind was to preserve U.S. clout at the negotiation table, as he still demanded that the South Vietnamese government remain intact. Nixon secretly ordered a massive bombing campaign against supply routes and bases in North Vietnam, and he also ordered that bombs be dropped on the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia. Nixon also told his aide that he wanted the enemy to believe that he was able to do anything.
On January 1973, the Nixon administration negotiated a peace agreement with the North Vietnamese leaders. The United States agreed to withdraw its remaining troops within 60 days in exchange for an immediate cease-fire, the return of American prisoners of war, and North Vietnam's promise to recognize the authority of South Vietnam's government and submit future disputes to an international commission.
He intended to maintain U.S. dignity in the face of its withdrawal from war. Another goal that Nixon had in mind was to preserve U.S. clout at the negotiation table, as he still demanded that the South Vietnamese government remain intact. Nixon secretly ordered a massive bombing campaign against supply routes and bases in North Vietnam, and he also ordered that bombs be dropped on the neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia. Nixon also told his aide that he wanted the enemy to believe that he was able to do anything.
On January 1973, the Nixon administration negotiated a peace agreement with the North Vietnamese leaders. The United States agreed to withdraw its remaining troops within 60 days in exchange for an immediate cease-fire, the return of American prisoners of war, and North Vietnam's promise to recognize the authority of South Vietnam's government and submit future disputes to an international commission.